Anderson To Appear on Calif. Ballot

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ John Anderson, the independent who captured 7 percent of the presidential vote in 1980, will appear this year as a Reform Party candidate on California’s primary ballot.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Anderson was serious about running.

Although California Reform Party leaders asked the secretary of state to place his name on the ballot, he has not filed a statement of candidacy nor set up a federal campaign committee. The secretary of state’s office confirmed Anderson’s spot on the March 7 ballot Tuesday.

During a visit to Salt Lake City on Monday, Anderson said he was not actively seeking the nomination but he would not rule out a presidential bid if a movement to draft him should materialize.

However, the 77-year-old Anderson said, ``My preference would be that the torch pass to younger hands.″

Anderson said he believes voters would be open to the right third-party candidate running on the right issues. For example, he pointed to the success of Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, elected on the Reform Party ticket.

``It shows the restlessness in the American electorate,″ Anderson said. ``The fact is that a new party could succeed with dedicated leadership and strong candidates.″

Anderson will join Donald Trump and three lesser-known candidates as Reform Party choices on the California primary ballot. Pat Buchanan is seeking the party’s presidential nomination, but he asked the secretary of state to leave his name off the ballot.

Anderson is one of five men Ventura has invited to seek the party’s nomination, Phil Madsen, the party’s national rules chairman, said by telephone from Minnesota.

The others are Trump, Sen. John McCain, who is seeking the Republican nomination, retired Gen. Colin Powell and former Connecticut Sen. Lowell Weicker.

Participation in state primaries is technically irrelevant, since party members will directly cast ballots nationwide this summer and they will be counted at the Reform Party national convention.